LOA and other Good Stuff!

It came!!!  Our loooooong-awaited LOA has arrived!

And can you see why we might be just a tad excited?  Kaison melts my heart!

 And... well, you know the saying "when it rains, it pours"?  It's pouring, y'all!

We are 8 to 10 weeks till travel, and we are still raising funds to get our little guy home, so we've planned a huge garage sale for March 18 and 19, and a pre-order Easter bake sale for March 25 and 26.

But we just received word this morning that our family has been approved for a family sponsorship through Connected Hearts Adoption Ministry! 

 We are so excited about this because it allows folks who want to give to do so through a 501(c)3 organization, meaning all giving is 100% tax deductible!  

Connected Hearts will then disburse the funds to our adoption agency, Lifeline Children's Services, once we are close to travel.

We know that God has not lost sight of us, and that He will provide all we need to bring Kaison home!  We praise Him for that, and we thank you for being a part of this amazing journey!

Our Connected Hearts Page is Here!

Change Begins With Us

Our hearts beat for children who have little to no hope without the love of a family, and no hope whatsoever without Christ.

14 years ago we surrendered our lives to the Lord.  All we are, all we have, all our days we surrendered.  

We didn't know exactly what that would look like, but we've pursued the desires He's placed in our hearts.

One of those pursuits is orphan care in terms of ministering to prospective and adoptive families, and adoption itself.

The Lord often stirs us to move and even draws us to a specific child at the most inopportune times.  In view of circumstances, resources and abilities, it seems illogical at best.  But in view of Scripture, it is a simple act of obedience in response to a command to love.

It is with much joy that we announce our newest treasure.  We are so privileged to be a small part of God's redemptive plan for his precious life.

We treasure your prayers throughout the journey to bring him home.

As with many times before, we are totally relying on God's provision for the adoption costs.  Introducing our first "Change Begins With Us" fundraiser~

These uber-cool tees come in unisex and women's slim fit, and are only $18 and $20 respectively.  
There are only 4 days left to get yours.

Click here: Be the Change

To HIM be all glory!

Gotcha Day ~ A Mama's Heart

This picture was taken on Adoption Day, the day after Gotcha.  I love this boy!  My son!

March 9th, a day beginning like the two before it: waking much too early because of  jet lag, and missing the material goods in the luggage we hadn't seen since checking it at Tulsa at 4:30 am Thursday, March 5.

And yet, this day would be very different.  The reality began to set in.  The precious little boy whom we'd fallen in love with in 7 pictures and mounds of paper would be placed in our arms today!

The culmination of praying, jumping into the proverbial river, fundraising, praying more, sharing our testimony, praying more and trusting like never before - it was all coming to pass today.  
The village that it takes to raise our children was in full swing.  The Huletts had stepped in swiftly and moved into our home because the roads were too treacherous for the Smiths to make the five hour drive on the 4th.  Our church family had begun preparing meals to assist in caring for our krew.  The Smith family arrived before the kids were off the school bus on the 5th.  Our internet connection was good and Skype was working.  All was well!

At 9:30 am we left the hotel and headed to the Civil Affairs Office.  We were the first family to arrive.  There was an adorable little boy already there with his foster family, and I thought for a moment he was Kohlby, but he wasn't.  Then a busload of families arrived.  Then a busload of babies arrived.  Another busload of families.  Another van load of babies.  Still none from Zhengzhou CWI.  We were grateful for the opportunity to watch so many children become family members!  Orphaned no more!!!  

I was so captivated by it all, I barely heard Kenzie say, "Mom, he's here!"  The next thing I knew a petite woman was walking my way and handed my tiny boy to me.  Where was the camera?  Where was my head?  

This little guy dressed in 3 layers of clothing wasn't fond of me and gently tried pushing away...until we found a sucker.  And then a cracker.  And another sucker.  Then it was Daddy's turn to hold him.  Although he is two, I had prepared a bottle of water, just in case it was exactly what he needed.  It was exactly what he needed!  Our little man loves the bottle, and it is a precious opportunity to bond with him.

He still wasn't sure about us white folks, but he loved playing peek-a-boo with the girls, and as long as they were playing with him, he tolerated us holding him.

I was so grateful that we had completed the guardianship paper work ahead of time and could focus on our son in this very crowded  room.  My arms had longed to hold him for nearly 11 months, and I didn't want to let go.

When our business was finished and it was time to go, I tried putting him in the Ergo, but he thrashed and threw such a fit it seemed every nanny in the room was telling me in Chinese that he didn't like that very much :/

I held him all the way back to the hotel while Daddy and the girls played with him.  Little man is said to be potty trained.  He was wearing split pants after all.  But he refused to sit on the toilet.  This was a new one for us.  We'd need some help with this one, but in the meantime, little dude would be dawning Pampers!

Once back in the room, everyone was hungry and wanted to go out.  Thank goodness my mama instinct kicked in.  I realized that Kohlby needed to know he could trust me so he and I stayed in the room.  I made a warm bottle and ramen noodles for him.  He allowed me to hold him and feed him the noodles.  I could tell he was getting sleepy so I rocked him and sang him to sleep as he chugged the bottle. 

Once the girls and Daddy were back from lunch and Wal-Mart, we woke him after a few hours.  Daddy bought a small potty chair, thinking this is what he's used to.  No go.  I guess we'll potty train later.

It was reported that he loves his bath but does not love getting his hair washed.  Both are true.  The first bath, however, he would not sit in the water.  He squatted.  Even as I tried washing his piggies, he wouldn't sit.  I'm happy to say that the following night he sat and played like it was the highlight of his day.

We decided to go out to supper as a family, and again tried the Ergo.  He struggled at first and then settled right down.  Success!  We made quite a scene in the restaurant as I fed my baby noodles while he was strapped to me.  Him looking into my eyes as I fed him was enough for me to block the stares of so many strangers.  This is exactly what we needed!

I wasn't sure if he'd be able to sleep well since he'd had such a long nap, but apparently all the chasing his sisters between the two rooms, mimicking himself in the mirror and jumping on the bed did him in.  He settled in for a bottle and fell asleep just a few minutes after I laid him in bed.  What a day!  My heart is full!  My God is good!

The next morning, Adoption Day, we went back to Civil Affairs to sign the official adoption paper work.  Again, we were the first to arrive.  *Okay, church family, I know you have a hard time believing this :)*  Kohlby laid claim on both scooters in the room.  So when more families arrived and other toddlers took over the scooters, our boy didn't know what to think.  As I was talking to another mama, he came to me, grabbed my finger, and muttering in toddler-ish Chinese, pulled me to the scooters and pointed.  All I could do was love him and find another toy.  But oh my heart! 

Later as Daddy was holding him, he flung himself at me, and sweetly said, "Mama."  Yes, God is so very good!

Hour by hour, day by day, he will know that he is loved.  Not only by his family, but by His Creator.  May everything we say and do point to Him.  He brings beauty from ashes.  From brokenness and loss, He brings redemption.  We are not the redeemers.  We are the ones transformed.

Thank you for praying us to this point.  Thank you for giving to our nonstop fundraisers.  Thank you for encouraging us.  Thank you for supporting us before, during and after travel.  Thank you for loving us.  Thank you for loving the Father!

My heart is full.  All praise and glory to the Father.

*Please forgive the lack of proofreading.  There is a sleeping boy who is waking and needs his mama's attention.*

I will not leave you as orphans.  I will come to you.  John 14:18

Boy Wonder

So much personality in one tiny package!

Today was Adoption Day!!!

  We are so blessed to call him son and brother!

We went back to the Civil Affairs Office to sign the adoption agreement.  Boy Wonder made himself right at home.

He's convinced that his sisters are here to entertain, his mama is here to feed, and his daddy is here to keep everybody in line.

Our first night was great!  I gave him a bottle and laid him in the crib.  After a few minutes he crashed...and so did the rest of us!

Yesterday morning he had nothing to do with the Ergo.  Screamed and thrashed.  But last night after I'd spent the day with him, we put him in it, and he settled down and allowed me to feed him in it.  Now he snuggles right in.  He's a tad stubborn.  And a lot cute!  Even though he's 2, I'm so grateful that he's so much of a baby.  It's great for bonding!!  Now when he's hungry or thirsty, he comes to Mama!

He now enjoys his bath.  Last night he would only squat in the tub, refusing to sit.  

The girls have some adorable pictures to post.

Just the Pix, Please! Introducing Kohlby!

I know what you really want are pictures, so I'll save the story for later.

This is when we were back at the hotel and had stripped the 10 pounds of clothes off him :)  Little man loves his freedom.

Civil Affairs Office

 Kohlby's orphanage was the last to arrive, and we were all so touched watching the other 20+ families receive their precious babies.  My girls are so tender-hearted.  Forever changed.

First glimpse.  First touch.

 Looking at the photo album we sent him.  It's been well worn :)

The photographer took a break to cuddle with her baby brother :)

 We've learned a thing or two about little man.  He wants what he wants.  And he wants what he wants.  Once we got back to the room and removed his many layers of clothes so he could cool off, there was no stopping him.  I decided it was best if everyone else went to lunch while I stayed in the room and fed wild man Kohlby noodles.  It was a great decision!  I got to feed him, give him a bottle and rock him to sleep!

He's settled in for a nap, and this is the only time he's still.  My arms will be busy every minute he's awake from now on!

I can't believe how absolutely adorable he is, even when he's trying to exert his independence.  He's not sure what to think of me yet, but he's growing more and more tolerable.  It helps that he loves to eat!  I can spend all day feeding him if I need to.

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD!!!

PS:  we just got word that our last 2 bags will arrive tonight!!!!

Sisters

Her schedule will look a little different for the next two weeks.

And so will hers.

For ten years we've talked about taking our kids to visit their birth country.
But life has been busy, the family has grown, and that just hasn't happened.
Kayden is the perfect age for a return visit, so a few months ago we started making plans to take her along.

And then in October Clayton had the accident, and we didn't know when he would walk again or if he could travel.

There's no way I would feel comfortable traveling alone with our newest treasure and keeping Kayden in my sight constantly.  So after getting clearance from the school, we made plans for Kenzie to travel.

Now, by God's grace, Clayton will travel with me!  And so will Kenzie and Kayden.

It will be an amazing adventure for these two sisters!  One returning to visit her birthland after 10 years, and the other returning to the birthland of 9 of her siblings.

We've even set up a Sister's blog that we'll publish if we're able to post from China.

Now if I could just get them to start packing.  Like mother, like daughter I suppose.

FOUR days!!!

I Will Come to You

I have stared at his face.

Printed and reprinted the 7 pictures.

From this one...

 ...to this one!

 *Gotta love those pink shoes.*

I've fundraised.
I've waited.
I've made packing lists.
I've started packing.  No, I haven't. Well, maybe in my mind.  No, I haven't.
I can feel him in my arms.
I can see myself chasing him.
And the beauty is that in 9 days he WILL be in my arms!!!

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:18